The Houston Texans made a seriously questionable call last Sunday in London, kicking off into the end zone with just eight seconds left in the second quarter against the Jacksonville Jaguars. That decision, plain and simple, was incorrect, especially because the Jaguars still had two timeouts in their pocket. This wasn’t some minor oversight; it nearly blew up in their faces in a huge way.
Houston’s Risky Play and Why It Was a Bad Idea
So, here’s the deal: giving the Jaguars the ball at their own 35-yard line with two timeouts is just asking for trouble. Unlike last week’s Eagles game against the Jaguars, where Philadelphia put a kickoff in play with eight seconds left in the fourth but the Jaguars had no timeouts, Houston gave Jacksonville a real window. If you’ve got no timeouts, it’s tough to complete a pass on the sidelines to get into field goal range because the defense can lock down the boundaries. But with two timeouts? That changes everything. The Texans essentially invited the Jaguars to try and make something happen.
How Close Jacksonville Came to a Game-Tying Bomb
And oh man, did the Jaguars almost make them pay! Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence launched a throw to receiver Parker Washington, who snagged it at the Houston 46-yard line. Imagine that: just 46 yards from the end zone, and all Washington had to do was secure the catch. But he couldn’t control it before it hit the ground. If that ball had stuck, Cam Little, the Jaguars’ kicker, would’ve been lining up for a monstrous 63-yard field goal attempt. Yeah, 63 yards is a long kick, no doubt. But Little has the leg to pull it off. Just three weeks ago, he missed a 70-yard try right before halftime, not because it was short, but because it went wide. He absolutely has the power for that distance.
That incomplete catch saved the Texans from a massive halftime headache. It was a close call, and it should be a huge lesson learned about clock management and trusting your special teams defense, especially when the other team still has timeouts to burn.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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